![\"Alex](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Alex-Dicken-Birmingham-Mail.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAlfons Sampsted scored the only goal in the friendly between Birmingham City and Solihull Moors<\/p>\n
Birmingham City reporter for BirminghamLive and the Birmingham Mail<\/p>\n
![\"Alfons](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_JS346088622.jpg\")
Alfons Sampsted of Birmingham City<\/p>\n
A goal from Alfons Sampsted ensured Birmingham City retained The Arthur Cup with a 1-0 win over Solihull Moors at St Andrew\u2019s.<\/a><\/p>\n Blues<\/a> fielded a weakened team for their rearranged friendly with Moors but their most senior player popped up with the only goal just before half-time.<\/p>\n There was a poignant applause in the sixth minute for Arthur Labinjo-Hughes who tragically lost his life in 2020, aged six.<\/p>\n The crowd crammed into the Kop Stand didn\u2019t have much to get excited about until Emil Hansson almost opened the scoring in the 20th minute.<\/p>\n George Hall exploded down the right and crossed to Hansson at the far post. The Swede controlled the ball and slotted underneath onrushing Moors goalkeeper Laurie Walker only for defender Brad Nicholson to clear the danger.<\/p>\n Hansson was one of three senior players deemed surplus-to-requirements by Chris Davies that started The Arthur Cup, along with Dion Sanderson and Sampsted, and the latter gave Blues the lead on the stroke of half-time.<\/p>\n Hansson raced down the left wing before turning his marker inside out and picking out Sampsted at the far post. The advanced right-back dusted off the cobwebs to volley into the corner.<\/p>\n As ever with pre-season friendlies, the inevitable raft of changes disrupted the rhythm of the game after half-time.<\/p>\n The first meaningful chance fell to Moors left-back Cameron Green but his shot cannoned wide off the post and Blues escaped.<\/p>\n With that went Moors\u2019 best chance to stop Blues from retaining The Arthur Cup. For the first year in a row The Arthur Cup stayed at St Andrew\u2019s but, more importantly, vital funds were raised for the NSPCC.<\/p>\n Brad Mayo<\/strong><\/p>\n Mayo is a first team squad member who never plays so supporters were able to get eyes on him against Moors. The Brummie stopper did well with a couple of looping crosses and claimed one corner superbly in the second half.<\/p>\n Alfons Sampsted<\/strong><\/p>\n Sampsted looked rusty before he buried a volley emphatically on the stroke of half-time. If any scouts were watching then Sampsted didn\u2019t do himself any harm with that finish.<\/p>\n Tommy Fogarty<\/strong><\/p>\n Fogarty is one of the more established Blues youngsters but his future appears to lie away from St Andrew\u2019s. He was decent enough in possession before his evening was cut short by a head injury.<\/p>\n Dion Sanderson<\/strong><\/p>\n The quality of the centre-back was clear in possession and positioning but he did overhit a couple of passes that he would have expected to make.<\/p>\n Menzi Mazwi<\/strong><\/p>\n Mazwi is a midfielder by trade but often ends up playing at left-back in training games like this. He impressed the crowd with one sprint and double challenge to thwart his man in the first half.<\/p>\n Alfie Chang<\/strong><\/p>\n Positionally Chang was spot on and he always showed for the ball, but could have moved it quicker and with more precision at times. Then again, it is pre-season.<\/p>\n Cody Pennington<\/strong><\/p>\n Pennington wanted to get on the ball and stood on the toes of Blues\u2019 centre-backs at times. He recycled it well enough and showed a good range of passing.<\/p>\n George Hall<\/strong><\/p>\n Hall showed his athleticism a couple of times and created one stand-out chance for Hansson that wasn\u2019t taken.<\/p>\n Zaid Betteka<\/strong><\/p>\n Betteka didn\u2019t shine as brightly as he did against Sevilla out in Portugal but the quality of players around him played a part in that. There were some nice touches in tight spaces and Betteka does fill spaces intelligently.<\/p>\n Emil Hansson<\/strong><\/p>\n Hansson was the sharpest of Blues\u2019 senior trio. He went close to scoring himself before creating Sampsted\u2019s goal with a brilliant piece of wing-play which saw him beat his man twice to pick Sampsted out with a pinpoint cross.<\/p>\n Daniel Isichei<\/strong><\/p>\n The winger played through the middle because Blues were without a striker and acquitted himself well. Isichei was a willing runner and set the press.<\/p>\n Get the latest Blues headlines sent straight to your phone<\/p>\n BirminghamLive has its very own Birmingham City<\/a> WhatsApp community to deliver the latest headlines straight to your phone. Just click this link<\/a> to receive daily Blues content and breaking news. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like. Click on the name at the top of your screen while in WhatsApp and click ‘Exit Group’. Read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n SUBS<\/p>\n Billy Burrell (for Fogarty, 36)<\/strong><\/p>\n Called upon earlier than expected and performed well on both sides of central defence. Burrell was composed on the ball and committed in the challenge.<\/p>\n Ben Wodskou (for Hall, 46)<\/strong><\/p>\n The striker carried an aerial threat and worked the Moors goalkeeper with a header in the second half.<\/p>\n Briar Bateman (for Hansson, 46)<\/strong><\/p>\n Bateman is a versatile forward and played on the right against Moors. There were some good ball carries and a willingness to track back and help out defensively.<\/p>\n Cameron Eubank (for Chang, 46)<\/strong><\/p>\n Eubank lived up to his name with a combative midfield display and he worked the goalkeeper with one excellent effort early in the second half.<\/p>\n Godfred Boakye (for Sanderson, 46)<\/strong><\/p>\n Boakye slotted in alongside Burrell for the second half and did well against experienced forwards in the Moors line-up.<\/p>\n Caleb Sanders (for Sampsted, 46)<\/strong><\/p>\n The right-back played with a strapped up right leg but didn\u2019t show weakness with a solid defensive display.<\/p>\n Zach Willis (for Pennington, 65)<\/strong><\/p>\n Battled in midfield alongside Eubank for the final 25 minutes to ensure Blues held on.<\/p>\n O\u2019Shea Ellis (for Betteka, 65)<\/strong><\/p>\n Ellis closed the game on the left-wing and made sure Mazwi wasn\u2019t overawed at left-back.<\/p>\n Alezandro Da Silva (for Isichei, 65)<\/strong><\/p>\n Da Silva closed the game in the number 10 position where his main job was to apply pressure as Moors looked for a late leveller.<\/p>\n![\"Alfie](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_JS375158737.jpg\")
Alfie Chang of Birmingham City<\/p>\n![\"Zaid](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0_JS375159066.jpg\")
Zaid Betteka of Birmingham City<\/p>\n